Author: Trevor Hallifax

Frances built 15/05/1888 by Cook Welton & Gemmel for George W Long of Hull
20/09/1913 Sold to Walter Crampin Grimsby
09/11/1915 Sold to A Bannister and Registered as GY 903
28/06/1917 She was captured by a U Boat and Sunk by Time Bombs 10 miles N E of Spurn Point

Her Details are 

• Official Number 93135
• Yard Number 20
• 20 GT 7 NT
• Dimensions 56 x 20.1
• Engines by Robey & Co 9 NHP 8 knots

28/06/1917 Sunk by U Boat 10 miles N E of Spurn Point

Franc Tireur built 1916 Cochrane & Sons Selby for Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice Co Grimsby
06/1917 Requisitioned as a minesweeper then escort vessel
1919 Returned 
09/1927 Registered to Consolidated Fisheries Ltd Grimsby 
05/1940 Requisitioned as an auxiliary patrol vessel & minesweeper 
04/1942 Sold to J Bennett 
25/09/1943 Sunk by E-Boat S 96 whilst on Admiralty service Position of the sinking was about 4 cables south of No 52 Buoy North Sea
a Translation of the E Boat report Reads
24.– 30.9.1943
North Sea
Mining company “test piece” of the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th S-Flotilla with 29 boats during the night of September 24/25. before Harwich and Orfordness. 120 mines are thrown. During combat, S 96 (Lt.z. Sander) sinks the British trawler Franctireur, but is rammed by the British ML 145 and has to be abandoned. 3 British engine launches are damaged.

Thanks to Jan Olof of warsailors for the information

Surname	Forename	Age At Death	Date Of Death	Rank	Boat
EDWARDS	ERNEST WILLIAM	Unknown	25/09/1943	Stoker	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.
EVELEIGH	MALCOLM SYDNEY	29	25/09/1943	Seaman	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.
FARROW	CYRIL	35	25/09/1943	Chief Engineman	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.
CRAIG	ROBERT	39	25/09/1943	Seaman	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.
FENTON	JAMES BROOMFIELD ROBINSON	31	25/09/1943	Seaman	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.
BOYD	WILLIAM HUNTER	41	25/09/1943	Lieutenant	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.
BRETTON	GEORGE	27	25/09/1943	Engineman	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.
ALLEN	WILLIAM	31	25/09/1943	Leading Seaman	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur
McCRORIE	HUGHES MCDINES	27	25/09/1943	Seaman	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.
MILTON	ALFRED HORACE	35	25/09/1943	Stoker	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.
NOBLE	JOHN TINLINE	33	25/09/1943	Engineman	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.
TYE	THOMAS STANLEY	Unknown	25/09/1943	Seaman	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.
MOSELEY	WILLIAM GEORGE	19	25/09/1943	Stoker 2nd Class	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.
NEWSON	JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN	33	25/09/1943	Seaman	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.
THOMAS	ROY GRETTON	21	25/09/1943	Cook	H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur.

Her Details are

• Official Number 139945
• Yard Number 682
• Call Sign GNYZ
• Admiralty Number FY 1270 FY 4.70
• Armament 1-12pdr
• GT 314 NT 162
• Quarter deck 74 Foc’sle 21
• Dimensions 137 x 24 x 12.8
• Engines Triple expansion 13, 23, 37 in x 26 in 86 NHP by Cooper & Greig Ltd Dundee

Lost 25/09/1943 Sunk by E-Boat S 96 whilst on Admiralty service